Hand supinator



March 22, 1960 J. M. SPINKS HAND SUPINATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April12, 1955 INVENTOR. JOSEPH M SPINKS BY Z 1 ATTORNEY FIG 3 March 22, 1960J. M. SPINKS 2,929,375

HAND SUPINATOR Filed April 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH MSPINKS BY @gwq ATTORNEY This invention relates to a hand supinator, andmore particularly to an exercise device wherein the hand and arm of aperson are lifted and rotated to exercise the ligaments and muscles,particularly in a paralyzed or immobilized hand and arm.

Following a cerebro-vascular accident, such as hemialgia, or a stroke,certain of the brain cells are damaged which in turn incapacitatecertain muscles usually in one arm and leg. Because of the partial orcomplete paralysis, the stronger muscles retract, overcoming the weakermuscles to draw up the hand and rotate it inwardly toward the body anddownwardly into what is known as a pronated position.

If the paralyzed hand, arm and shoulder are to be rehabilitated, it isnecessary for certain other undamaged brain cells to take over thedirection and operation of the muscles previously controlled by thedamaged cells.

In order to effect this change in control, it is necessary to exercisethe hand by rotating the same from its pronated position to a positionwherein the palm of the hand is facing upwardly. This later position isknown as the supinated position. It is also desirable while exercisingthe hand to exercise the affected arm and shoulder as well, since somemuscles in the arm are usually affected to draw up the arm against thebody with the elbow sticking outwardly. Thus, it is seen that adesirable type of exercise for a paralyzed hand and arm would be to liftthe arm above the head while, at the same time, rotating the hand to thesupinated position.

Now, in most hemialgia cases, the muscles and tendons of the affectedparts of the body are left dormant for a period of time following theattack, and these muscles and tendons usually become so tight thatsubstantially any exercise will cause a great deal of pain and sufferingto the patient. To utilize a machine or other apparatus which will applypredetermined force along a predetermined path would be to subject apatient, in some instances, to more pain than is desirable; therefore,it is most desirable to provide apparatus which may be manipulated bythe patient himself so that at no time will the patient be required tosubject himself to more pain than he himself determines.

To fill a definite need for apparatus which may be aperated by thepatient to provide proper exercise for a paralyzed or partiallyparalyzed hand and arm, I have provided a hand supinator wherein aparallel or cross bar is disposed over a patients head with a pair ofhandles suspended from the ,bar. The handles themselves are connected bycable means extending over pulleys or the like so that when one handleis pulled down, the other is raised. Thus, a patient, by graspingrespective handles, may raise one handle carrying the hand of theaffected arm by pulling on the other handle with the unaffected hand.Now, an important part of my invention is that at least one handle beprovided with a means of pivoting the same as that handle is lifted. Inthis way, the hand of a patient may be pivoted from the pronated to thesupinated position as that handle is raised.

2,929,375 Patented Mar. 22, 1960 Accordingly, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a hand supinator adapted to simultaneouslyraise the arm of a patient while rotating the hand of that arm. Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a hand supinator wherein theoperation and direction of movement of the supinator is entirelycontrolled by the patient.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hand supinator wherein aprogressively stronger twist is imparted to a patients hand.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hand supinator which isinexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and efficient inoperation.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which like characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts through the several views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand supinator constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view on a reduced scale of the handsupinator illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view on a reduced scale of the hand supinatorillustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the hand supinator illustrated inFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a detail showing the exercise handle ofthe hand supinator illustrated in Fig. 1, said exercise handle beingextended and receiving a persons hand in the pronated position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the exercise handle illustrated in Fig.5, said exercise handle being in an intermediate position with a personshand.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the exercise handle illustrated in Fig.5, said exercise handle being in the retracted position with the personshand in the supinated position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged broken fragmentary view of the cross bar assemblyof the hand supinator illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the cross bar assembly illustratedin Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cross bar assemblyattached to a house door.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the cross bar assembly illustratedin Fig. 10.

Referring nowin detail to the embodiment chosen for purpose ofillustration, numeral 12 denotes a U-shaped frame structure forming thebase of my hand supinator. This frame 12 is supported horizontally on aflat surface by casters 13 so that the apparatus may be moved from placeto place.

Extending vertically up from the central portion of one arm of frame 12is a standard 14, the purpose of which will be described later.Projecting horizontally from standard 143 at a position approximately18" above the supporting surface is seat supporting beam 15, the end ofwhich is connected to the other arm of frame 12 by a brace 16. Centrallyof beam 15 is a reinforcing strap 17 which extends horizontallyrearwardly, then downwardly, to connect to the central portion of frame12.

As is best seen in Fig. 1, the frame 12, standard 14, beam 15 and brace16 are all preferably formed of aluminum material having a rectangularcross-section, while strap 17 is a fiat piece of sheet metal material.Of course, the above described elements may be formed of many othertypes and shapes of material without departing from the scope of myinvention.

As best seen in Fig. l, a conventional chair seat 18 is fixed on beam 15and to strap 17, and a conventional chair back 19 is supported in itsusual position by a flat brace 20 fixed to strap 17.

It is now seen that a seat for a person and a standard 3 1:4 aresupported by frame 12, the seat being so positioned that a hand of aperson seated in the seat will lie in approximately the same transverseplane with standard l4 if the forearm of the person is approximatelyhorizontal and the upper arm of the person is approximately vertical.

The upper end of standard 14 is provided with. a plurality ofpinreceiving holes ,21' while a sleeve 22' is slideablyreceived bystandard 14; Sleeve 22' is provided with aligned apertures 23' whichthemselves align with holes 21 as the, sleeve 22 is moved up and downstandard 14. To fixsleeve 22 with respect to standard 14- at any one ofseveral predetermined. positions above seat 18, a pin 24 is-attached tosleeve 22 by a chain 25 so that it may be inserted through apertures 2-3and one of holes 21. Pin 24, of course, may be removed when desired andapertures 23 aligned with other of holes 21 to vary the height of sleeve22 above seat 18;

Projecting horizontally out from sleevei22 above and across seat 18 is across bar 26. This cross bar 26 is positioned substantially parallel andin a vertical plane with beam 15, and: is removed when sleeve 22 ismoved. As shown in Fig. 8, pulleys 27, 27' are respectively locatedadjacent'the ends of cross bar 26 within the same, being journaled forrotation in substantially the median vertical plane of cross bar 26 bypins 28, 28'. Spaced inwardly and slightly below pulleys 27, 27 arepulleys 29, 29' which are respectively journaled for rotation in thesame median plane by other pins (not shown).

From an inspection of Fig. 8, it will be seen that pulleys 27, 27 arealigned on av horizontal plane, and.

pulleys 29, 29 are aligncdon a horizontal plane slightly belowthatplane. Handle supporting cables 30 and 31 respectively extend betweenpulleys 2'7, 27 and between pulleys 29, 29 so that the ends of thesecables hang 4 utilized to lift the paralyzed hand by pulling on theother handle.

As the paralyzed hand is lifted, the length of cables 30 and 31 betweenhandle 32 becomes shorter and shorter thus exerting more and morerotating force to urge the paralyzed hand from the pronated to thesupinated position, as shown in Fig. 6. As the handle 32 reaches the topof its stroke, the hand is substantially in the supinated position, thusstretching. to a maximum the strong muscles of the arm.

When handle 32 islowered, the. natural tendency of the affected handrotates the handle back to the position illustrated in Fig. 5.

It will thus be seen that the patient or person himself can determinewhen and Where to pause in the exercise of the hand and determine howmuch exercise and to what extent the paralyzed hand should be exercised.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations maybe made in the embodiments chosen for purpose of illustration withoutdeparting from the scope or" my invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1.. Apparatus, of the class described comprising horizontally disposedsupport means, handles disposed below said support means, pulley meansconnected to said support means, at least two of said pulley means beingspaced apart substantially the distance of one of said handles, andcablev means extending from the extremities of one of saidhandlesrespectively over the spaced pulley means and being connected tothe other of said handles.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a cross 7 bar, aplurality of pulleysscarried' by said cross bar, a

pendent through an opening in the bottom of cross bar 26 to supportexercise handles 32 and 33. As will be seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 11,exercise handle 32 is fixed at one end of cables 30 and 31 and exercisehandle 33 is fixed at the other end of cables 30 and 31 so that as oneof handles 32 and 33 is pulled the other handle will travel up towardscross bar 26. The distances between pul eys 27 and 29, and pulleys 27and 29,, are approximately the Width of handles 32 and 33, while thelengths of cables 30 and 31 are such that handles 32. and 33 willnormally remain parallel to cross bar 26.

In Figs. 10 and 11, it is seenthat I have provided a substitute forstandard 14 in event that the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l is toobulky or expensive for home use. In Figs. 10 and 11, I have provided aU-shaped clamp 34 which fits over the top of a conventional door 35. Onearm of clamp 34. is provided with supporting standard 36 whichprojectsdownrfrom clamp 34.to servethe same purpose asstandard 14 in that itiseprovided,

withspaced holes 37 so thatthe cross bar, assembly may b'esupported bythe same. Eor supporting. thetcross bar assembly, sleeve22 is fittedover the lower end of standard 36 and moved until the proper height hole37 is aligned with apertures 23; then pin 24. isinserted therethrough tofix sleeve 22 with respect. to standard 36. Of course, when theexerciseis completed, the cross bar assembly may be removed and clamp 34 removedfrom,

the top of door 35. v

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the type of exercise which my-hand supinator isdesigned to perform is illustrated. By sitting in seat 18, a person maywithdraw one of the exercise handles to the position shown in Fig. 5 andloop the fingers of his paralyzed or partially paarlyzed hand aroundoneof handles. 32 or 33, whichever is adjacent that hand. Prior to loopingthe fingers of the hand around the handle 32, the handle must beextended and rotated 180 in counter-clockwise direction, clockwise forlyzed. hand. The: unatiected or: unparalyzedrhand is pair of cableslooped over said pulleys with its ends hanging pendent below said crossbar, and handles connected between complementary ends of said cables,said cables being suiiiciently wide apart to impart an untwistingmovement to said handles in response to the application of tension onsuch cables by the other handle after the cables are twisted by saidhandle.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a clamp means constructedand arranged to removably extend over a conventional door, a standardfixed by one end to said clamp means and extending adjacent said door, acrossbar. extending substantially horizontally from said standard, meansfor adjusting the position of said cross bar with respect to saidclamp,multiple handle means disposed below said cross bar, pulley meansconnected to saidcrossbar, at leastv two of said pulley means beingspacedapart substantially, the width ofoneof said handle means, andcable; means extending; from the extremities of one of said handle meansrespectively over said pulley means and being connectedto the, other ofsaid handle means wherein said handle, means includes apair of handles.and said, cable meansv includes-a pair of cables. joining theextremities: of, said pair of. handles, and said,

cablesareloopedoversaid pulley means.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a'standcrossbar, a cableconnecting the outer extremities of said handles together through saidcross bar, a second cable connecting the inner extremities of saidhandles together, through said cross bar and means for guiding saidcables in said cross bar.

5; Apparatus, defined in claim 4 wherein said means for guiding saidcables in said cross bar include pulleys over which said :cablesare;looped, saidpulleys spacing said cables between said. handles and saidcross bar normally in substantially parallel spaced relationship.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said sleeveis; slideable.with respect to said standard, said standard is providedwitlitaapluralityofispacedholes;and.a pinis:v

connected to said sleeve to project into said holes in said standard.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of moveablehandles disposed in predetermined planes for parallel movement withrespect to each other, a pair of cables connected between theextremities of each of said handles for moving one handle in onevertical direction while the other handle is moved in the oppositevertical direction, and a pair of pulleys spacing said cables apart at apoint intermediate said handles, said cables being connected at theopposite ends of said handles for twisting at least one of said handlestoward its predetermined plane in the event of its departure therefromas it is moved by the other of said handles.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of movable handlesdisposed for parallel movement with respect to each other inpredetermined planes and a pair of cables connected between theextremities of each handle for moving one handle in one direction whenthe other handle is moved in the opposite direction, said cables beingoperable to twist said handles toward said predetermined planes in theevent of prior movement therefrom as such handles are moved by movementof the other of said handles.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of movable handlesdisposed for parallel movement with respect to each other inpredetermined planes, a pair of cables connected between the extremitiesof each handle for moving one handle in one direction when the otherhandle is moved in the opposite direction, and a pair of pulleys spacingsaid cables apart at a point intermediate said handles along saidcables, said cables being operable to twist said handles toward saidpredetermined planes in the event of prior movement therefrom as suchhandles are moved by the movement of the other of said handles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS321,388 Ruebsam June 30, 1885 478,833 Wright July 12, 1892 1,222,924Boyd Apr. 17, 1917 2,079,617 Johnson May 11, 1937 2,305,548 Nichols Dec.15, 1942 2,328,156 London Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 920,448 FranceIan. 4, 1947

